Toro Hydros

Need some advice about the hp on these units. Am thinking about putting a spreader on one. Is the 15hp adequate or should i go with the 20hp. You guys that are using them are candid in your opinions, I appreciate your help. Mike

Thanks for the replies. To address the fert in the rain deal, no. But I do put on Milorganite after rain and in heavy dew. I also want to use it for what it was designed for. I like the fact that there is no shifting for forward and reverse with the toro. Trying to cover as many bases as I can here. I already have a riding spreader but it is a little large for some spots and not manueverable enough. One other thing, hard or soft bag for the Toro? I need to bag sometimes. Thanks again for the help. Mike

I tried out my electric spreader on my Toro for the first time tonight. It worked really good other than it needs to be tilted back a little bit more. I used 2" angle iron to mount it and with 75 lbs of fertilizer in it the steel flexs abit so I will add another brace to strengthen it. We're taking pics of it tomorrow so when I get them developed I will scan them. I just used my stand up sulky on it and flew around the lawns. At speed it was a little bumpy in some spots but not real bad. Worked much better than the Yazoo on hills too. After I got home I got out the big Ransomes and played on the hill infront of my house,, good hill climber too. I can't wait to get it on the scoccer fields and the small golf course, it's about 4 acres.

Lawrence, "you" don't put a spreader on a new machine. I on the other hand will because Milorganite does not cause oxidation of metal. It is inert as far as causing decay.

I know you have a unique way of utilizing and customizing equipment. I too do this, I was just looking for some opinions as far as the hp requirements involved here. I am not putting the spreader on top of the mower frame. I intend to customize a frame for my needs and just use traction unit for the pushing power. The spreader I will use is a 220 pound capacity unit that has proven itself for my needs.

I am not in the mowing end of the business. I intend to use the mower in my own yard. I have been in this business long enough to know that I do not want a used unit that is someone elses headache. If this does not work out I will sell it and move on. The next step will be to build my own. I can take some ideas off the traction unit from the Toro and apply them to my own machine.

>The next step will be to build my own. I can take some ideas off the traction unit from the Toro and apply them to my own machine.

You will get real tired if you are going to change over to another carrier frame every time you want to mow or spread.

>The spreader I will use is a 220 pound capacity unit that has proven itself for my needs.

Sounds a little like overkill to me. A lesco electric truckster at $350 is a superior unit. I only add one bag at a time to my 100 lb jrco unit. I just place the bags at certain locations on the site by unloading them off the truck when I first arrive.

>I on the other hand will because Milorganite does not cause oxidation of metal. It is inert as far as causing decay.

It also is not cost effective and does not have enough K. I apply 30-2-5 100% scu at 30k/1k for a total of 1/2 on N per app for a materials cost of $.66 per 1k or $28.71/acre.

How much does sludge cost when applied at 1/2 lb of N per
1/k sq ft.? And how many extra bags do you have to transport and load into the spreader vs. 30-2-5?